Chapter 299: Chapter 279 How do you have these photos
Hearing Gu Qili’s question, Pheromone laughed as if she’d heard the biggest joke, shaking her head vigorously: "Impossible, like I said, our families live close to each other, went to the same class from elementary to middle school, and even though we weren’t in the same class in high school, we were still in the same grade, let alone that art school she attended, whose principal is my uncle. I’d go play there once in a while and saw her there many times."
Yeah, Zhou Xiaoyu isn’t a twin, not like her and Gu Yunxi, who look almost identical and could be mistaken for one another.
"By the way, the comment I left on that website yesterday was deleted in just a few hours. Zhou Xiaoyu must have gotten herself connected with some big shot because even her parents moved away recently, and nobody knows where they went. Also, those who claim to be her school friends, their comments vanish very quickly, disappearing soon after being posted on the internet."
"Sigh, Zhou Xiaoyu was always well-behaved in school, never offended anyone, so maybe that’s why nobody kept targeting her, except for me. We even fought over a boy," Pheromone remarked with a shake of her head and a long sigh, "But now, thinking back, it’s all in the past. It was petty of me to comment and expose her secrets online just because I saw news about her. I don’t think I’ll do it again, I should wish her well."
"However, if she really became the other woman, she should still be criticized. I hope what I said today can be of help to you."
Gu Qili was stunned long after Pheromone finished speaking, believing that Pheromone wasn’t lying, because they didn’t know each other and there was no need for her to lie to her, and besides, these photos couldn’t be photoshopped.
"Can you send me a copy of these photos?"
"Take them if you want, I have no use for them now. I’m not planning on causing her any trouble anymore," Pheromone said generously, slipping the photos into the menu.
"Thank you. Go ahead and order, this meal is on me."
Pheromone happily said, "Thank you, it’s my first time eating French food. Don’t worry, I won’t choose anything too expensive."
"Doesn’t matter, I’ll suggest a few signature dishes for you."
After eating, Pheromone left, and Gu Qili went to the changing room alone. She sat on the central bench and pulled out a voice recorder from her pocket. Words without evidence, she thought, so she had made preparations in advance and recorded her entire conversation with Pheromone. Now, staring at the voice recorder, she felt indescribable emotions.
She didn’t want to plunge from heaven to hell on the back of hope again, so she needed to know the absolute truth.
～
It wasn’t easy for Gu Qili to meet Zhou Xiaoyu, whom she had been waiting to encounter for a whole week at the Nanyuan Mansion, and during this week, Zhou Xiaoyu had been riding in the same car, coming and going, with Mu Shuoqian.
She saw them together all day and night, which should have made her give up, but the words of "V" kept reminding her to seize even the slightest hope, the idea of not giving up unless she hit the south wall head-on, even if she got a bloody head from it and no regrets.
Finally, one day, Zhou Xiaoyu appeared alone in her view, followed by her assistant.
Zhou Xiaoyu was running with headphones, listening to music while jogging.
She hadn’t gone far when someone started to jog up from behind. Assuming they enjoyed running just as much, she didn’t pay attention until the person caught up and ran slowly beside her, prompting her to turn her head.
Zhou Xiaoyu found her somewhat familiar but only had to think for a moment before she recalled her as the headwaitress from the French Restaurant, whose beauty and unique demeanor had left a strong impression from her last visit there.
The assistant, noticing someone following them, immediately warned, "Xiaoyu, let’s go back."
Zhou Xiaoyu nodded and was about to stop.
Nearby, Gu Qili suddenly spoke up, "Zhou Yan, can we talk?"
This caught Zhou Xiaoyu’s attention successfully, and although only a hint of panic flashed in her eyes, Gu Qili caught every bit of it,
Zhou Xiaoyu then told her assistant, "I know this lady, we need to talk, you wait over there for me."
After hesitating for a bit, the assistant obediently left.
Now on the small path, only Zhou Xiaoyu and Gu Qili stood facing each other, the verdant woods on either side rustling in the wind, and as they had both been running,
Zhou Xiaoyu couldn’t help but admire internally, what a beauty indeed.
Gu Qili wiped the sweat from her forehead before speaking, "Miss Zhou, do you know what May 4th signifies?"
Zhou Xiaoyu looked bewildered: "Do I know you? Why would you ask such a question?"
"May 4th is Mu Shuoqian’s birthday, right?"
Zhou Xiaoyu was taken aback for a moment. When Mu Shuoqian handed her the contract, the details about his preferences were very clear, including, of course, his birthday and other basic information.
"Yes."
"Then do you also know what May 4th represents?" Gu Qili said word by word to a clueless Zhou Xiaoyu, "It’s the wedding anniversary of Mu Shuoqian and me."
Zhou Xiaoyu’s mouth hung open in surprise, her beautiful eyes closely observing Gu Qili’s face. It seemed she was beginning to understand; she had always been acting in this play.
Was she the girl Mu Shuoqian liked? She must be very fortunate.
While feeling envious, Zhou Xiaoyu quickly regained her composure, smiling gracefully: "I remember Shuoqian mentioning this. He was with you when he couldn’t find me, right?"
Gu Qili blinked twice: "Looking for you?"
"Miss Zhou, what did I just say?"
Zhou Xiaoyu’s mouth opened slightly in a panic. Although she knew that Gu Qili spoke in English, she could only understand a few words; her studies at the art school did not focus on English.
"I... I later suffered from amnesia," Zhou Xiaoyu hastily made up an excuse.
"Alright, let’s assume Miss Zhou has forgotten her own language due to amnesia. What about this?" Gu Qili pulled out a voice recorder from her pocket and pressed the play button under Zhou Xiaoyu’s watchful eyes.
To protect Pheromone’s identity, the recording was altered by her, and the voice that came out was mechanized.
In the end, Gu Qili spread several photos in front of Zhou Xiaoyu. This time, Zhou Xiaoyu’s complexion finally turned pale.
She blurted out in panic: "You... how do you have these photos?"
"Miss Zhou, actually, you don’t have to admit it yourself. By looking at your expressions, I already know the truth. You really are Zhou Yan, and you’re not any ex-girlfriend of Mu Shuoqian’s; you’re just someone he paid a high price to act with him," Gu Qili said these words, her eyes suddenly welling up with tears, "Miss Zhou, you’re a kind person, your eyes are clear of impurities, you probably have no idea why he’s doing this. I apologize for unmasking you so rudely today, but I assure you I have no ill intentions, and here, these are for you."
After placing the recorder and photos in Zhou Xiaoyu’s hands, Gu Qili turned and walked away.
Her tears uncontrollably began to fall like broken strings. She could not understand why Mu Shuoqian was going through such lengths to act out this charade. If she had not persevered and refused to give up, if she had not by chance encountered Pheromone, then perhaps his plan would have succeeded.
What could he possibly have encountered to so desperately push her away? She even thought that perhaps he was suffering from some terminal illness, as is common in novels, right?
So the hurtful words he said to her might also be insincere, because there never was a "former Zhou Xiaoyu," so those words were just made up by him, no, maybe, the person he was referring to was her—after all, he said, "She is the love of my life."
The decorations in his house weren’t placed there by a cleaning lady, but were personally made by him. Indeed, and also his new Mercedes, with the license plate number 1921. She always thought it was an ordinary plate number, but with the experience of 5277, she immediately deciphered its meaning: Still Love You. At that moment, Gu Qili had only one thought in her heart; she needed to confront him and get a clear explanation.
Even if he no longer wanted her, she needed to hear it from his own lips, not pushed away by these frivolous excuses.
This thought was so strong that Gu Qili felt both ecstatic and anxious, to the point that she didn’t notice a car suddenly approaching as she crossed an intersection.
Zhou Xiaoyu stood there, lost in thought, holding the voice recorder and photos in her hands, as if petrified.
It seemed like her act had flopped. According to the agreement she had signed with Mu Shuoqian, she likely wouldn’t get the remainder of that huge sum of money, but surprisingly, she felt no sadness.
Because of Mu Shuoqian, she had gone from a third-rate actor to the darling of the entertainment industry, and her acting skills had been recognized. But that wasn’t what mattered most. The most important thing was that the girl he deeply loved had finally uncovered the truth. She must be on her way to find him by now, right?
Tears began to well up in Zhou Xiaoyu’s eyes. Just as she was about to wipe them away, she suddenly heard a harrowing screech of brakes in the distance, followed by a loud crash.